AP News Digest 2 p.m.
Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
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ONLY ON AP
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AP POLL-CONFIDENCE IN INSTITUTIONS — Do Americans trust anyone or anything in public life these days? Even after impeachment, ahead of the elections and amid the coronavirus, some do, according to a new survey. President Donald Trump appears unharmed by his impeachment and subsequent Senate acquittal — in fact he received some of the highest marks of his presidency in the new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. By Laurie Kellman and Emily Swanson. SENT: 760 words, photo.
ELECTION 2020-SANDERS NDA — A political advocacy group founded by Bernie Sanders entered into a nondisclosure agreement with an African American political consultant that bars her from discussing a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination at the organization and the Vermont senator's 2016 presidential campaign. By Brian Slodysko and Will Weissert. SENT: 1,230 words, photos.
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FINANCIAL-MARKETS — U.S. stocks fell sharply and were on track for their worst week since October 2008 as the spreading coronavirus threatens to derail the global economy. The virus outbreak has been shutting down industrial centers, emptying shops and severely crimping travel all over the world. By Damian J. Troise. With FINANCIAL MARKETS-CORRECTION-Q&A — Stocks just “corrected,” a regular but still scary event. SENT: 875 words, photos. WITH: TRUMP-MARKETS — The president who has long embraced stock market gains as a measure of his own success now finds himself struggling to distance himself from the market's slide in the midst of the coronavirus threat. UPCOMING: 850 by 4:30 p.m., photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — A deepening health crisis became an economic one too as the coronavirus outbreak sapped financial markets, emptied shops and businesses and put major sites and events off limits. The list of countries hit by the illness edged toward 60 as Mexico, Belarus, Lithuania, New Zealand, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Iceland and the Netherlands reported their first cases. The threats to livelihoods were increasingly as worrisome as the threats to lives. By Foster Klug and Matt Sendesky. SENT: 680 words, photos. WITH: VIRUS OUTBREAK-NIGERIA — Nigeria confirms coronavirus, first in sub-Saharan Africa; VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW ZEALAND — New Zealand reports first virus patient; case linked to Iran; VIRUS OUTBREAK-WHAT'S HAPPENING- Virus fears hit Africa, markets, churches. SENT: 890 words, photos; VIRUS OUTBREAK-AT A GLANCE. Also see MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK below.
UNITED STATES-AFGHANISTAN-PEACE DEAL — America's longest war may finally be nearing an end as the United States and the Islamists it toppled from power in Afghanistan are poised to sign a peace deal on Saturday. By Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee. UPCOMING: 1,000 words by 4 p.m., photos.
ELECTION 2020 — The South Carolina primary opens a critical three day period that will determine whether Democrats rally around Bernie Sanders or prepare for a lengthy fight for the presidential nomination. By Steve Peoples. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photos.
For featured coverage of the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday.
MED--OBESITY-SECOND SURGERIES - As more Americans turn to surgery to lose weight, more of them are also returning for a second operation, because the first isn't working. Last year, an estimated 15% of the 252,000 obesity surgeries in the U.S. came after a previous surgery. That compares to 6% of the 158,000 surgeries in 2011, according to a surgeons' group. By Candice Choi. UPCOMING: 785 words, photos.
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MORE ON VIRUS OUTBREAK
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VIRUS OUTBREAK-US RESPONSE — Federal officials scramble to get testing for the coronavirus up and running in every state by the end of next week, as President Donald Trump’s chief economic officer seeks to calm a jittery stock market and urges Americans not to overreact. By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Darlene Superville. UPCOMING: 900 words by 4 p.m., photos.
MED--VIRUS OUTBREAK-DRUG SHORTAGE — Health officials reported the first U.S. drug shortage tied to the viral outbreak that is disrupting production in China, but they declined to identify the manufacturer or the product. The Food and Drug Administration said that the drug's maker recently contacted officials about the shortage, which it blamed on a manufacturing issue with the medicine's key ingredient. SENT: 480 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-FACE-MASK-SHORTAGES — Fear of the spreading coronavirus has led to a global run on sales of face masks despite medical experts' advice that most people who aren't sick don't need to wear them. Many businesses are sold out, while others are limiting how many a customer can buy. Amazon is policing its site, trying to make sure sellers don't gouge panicked buyers. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-AFRICA-STRANDED STUDENTS — Parents' fears are growing for the thousands of African students who are thought to be stranded in China's locked-down city of Wuhan amid the virus outbreak. There are concerns that students are running out of food and money weeks after other countries evacuated citizens. SENT: 920 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MIDEAST — After facing sanctions and the risk of war amid tensions with the United States, Iran’s Shiite theocracy now has an enemy in the new coronavirus that infiltrated its leadership in plain view of state-controlled media and despite repeated denials of any looming threat. SENT: 1,120 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-ITALY — Authorities in Italy moved to reopen schools and museums amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country which has the most cases outside of Asia. Italians yearned for a return to normal life even as other European countries were introducing restrictions or closures to rein in the spread of the disease. SENT: 1,133 words, photos.
OLY--TOKYO-VIRUS OUTBREAK - IOC President Thomas Bach refuses to add “fuel to the flames of speculation” about possible disruption of the Tokyo Olympics over a fast-spreading virus. He urges athletes to proceed “full steam.” A transcript of Bach’s remarks to limited Japanese media is obtained by the AP. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.
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TRUMP-CONSERVATIVES — Four years ago, Donald Trump didn’t even bother attending the annual gathering of the Conservative Political Action Conference, jabbing that he was too controversial for the establishment Republican gathering. This week, as hardcore conservatives gather ahead of the 2020 election, they find themselves working on how to sell the man who has transformed the GOP beyond the party faithful. By Aamer Madhani. UPCOMING: 600 words by 5 p.m., photos.
LIBERAL GUN OWNERS-POLITICS — The field of Democratic presidential candidates are universally in favor of some form of gun control. That leaves liberals who own firearms wondering: Who should get my vote? Liberals, women and minorities are among a growing segment of gun owners in the United States. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos by 5 p.m.
ELECTION 2020-CALIFORNIA PRIMARY-VOTING — Major changes to the way Californians vote have voting advocates on edge as people cast ballots in a high-profile primary that was moved up from June so the country's most populous state could have a say in picking the Democratic nominee for president. SENT: 835 words, photos.
CONGRESS-SURVEILLANCE — Surveillance tools used by the FBI to fight terrorism could expire next month due to a deepening impasse in Congress. Liberal Democrats and some conservative Republicans want to overhaul the laws to ensure that the U.S. doesn’t unfairly surveil private citizens. At the same time, Republicans angry over the FBI’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s campaign want to use the expiration of the tools to force their own changes. The biggest unknown is Trump himself and what kind of bill he will accept. By Mary Clare Jalonick and Eric Tucker. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photos.
CONGRESS-BARR — The House Judiciary Committee is launching a wide-ranging probe of Attorney General William Barr and the Justice Department, demanding briefings, documents and interviews with 15 officials as it tries to determine whether there has been improper political interference in federal law enforcement. By Mary Clare Jalonick. SENT: 630 words, photos.
FEDERAL PRISONS-GUN SEARCH — The federal jail in New York City where wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein took his own life is on lockdown as authorities try to determine whether someone smuggled a gun inside one of the most secure federal jails in the country, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. By Michael Balsamo. SENT: 630 words, photo.
ELECTION 2020-TRUMP — President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in South Carolina on the eve of the state’s primary. By Kevin Freking. UPCOMING: 600 words by 5 p.m., photos.
POMPEO — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the Trump administration's response to the spreading coronavirus and faced contentious questions from Democrats about an airstrike that killed Iran's most powerful general. By Eric Tucker. SENT: 450 words, photo.
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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
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FRANCE-FIRE - Police evacuated a historic Paris train station after a fire engulfed multiple vehicles and sent a large cloud of black smoke over the neighborhood. SENT: 150 words.
KOBE BRYANT-CRASH PHOTOS — Authorities are reportedly investigating whether deputies shared graphic photos of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others. SENT: 435 words, photos.
BABY TRUMP BALLOON ARREST — An Alabama man arrested for slashing a towering protest balloon depicting President Trump as a baby ordered to attend counseling and complete community service. SENT: 215 words.
BUFFALO DIOCESE-BANKRUPTCY — The embattled Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo filed for bankruptcy protection, taking another major step in its effort to recover from a clergy misconduct scandal that‘s been the basis for hundreds of lawsuits. SENT: 310 words.
CHAINED CHILD — The mother and grandmother of an Alabama boy found chained and naked inside a home received 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated child abuse. SENT: 120 words, photo.
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CENSUS ALASKA PROBLEMS - More than a month into the start of the 2020 census in rural Alaska, some workers going door to door have grown frustrated by not knowing when they will get their next assignments. Others have bought gear to protect against the brutal cold only to find out they're not getting paid back. And a smartphone app to log hours worked is difficult to use in the field, census takers told The Associated Press. SENT: 1,063 words, photos.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-WEINSTEIN — The jury that convicted Harvey Weinstein of rape and sex assault did not consider the trial's implications for the #MeToo movement, one of the jurors said in an interview aired Friday. “No, zero, absolutely zero,” juror Drew Malbin said on “CBS This Morning." “Because it’s not the job and it’s not what we were asked to do." SENT: 600 words, photos.
IMMIGRATION-ASYLUM — A federal appeals court temporarily halts a major Trump administration policy to make asylum seekers wait in Mexico while their cases wind through U.S. immigration courts. SENT: 700 words.
BLACK HISTORY-UNTOLD STORIES - A Dartmouth College professor has created a website that aims to highlight African Americans who did great things but never the recognition of their more famous peers. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 5 p.m.
INTO THE WILD-LURE OF THE BUS — Travelers have gotten stranded, injured and even died trying to reach an abandoned bus in Alaska’s punishing wilderness, while attempting to retrace the journey described in “Into the Wild." Now families of some of those who died are proposing a footbridge to make it easier for people to complete the journey, but locals fear that could give pilgrims a false sense of security. SENT: 730 words, photos.
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SYRIA — The presidents of Turkey and Russia spoke by phone to try to defuse tensions that rose significantly in Syria after 33 Turkish troops were killed in a Syrian government airstrike, and a new wave of refugees and migrants headed for the Greek border by land and sea after Turkey said it would no longer hold them back. SENT: 1,290 words, photos.
VENEZUELA FOOD INSECURITY — Families in Venezuela struggling to find enough food each day talk about their struggle. A U.N. World Food Program study that showed one of three in residents of the crisis-stricken nation aren’t able to meet minimum nutrition requirements. UPCOMING: 500 words by 5 p.m.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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CONGRESS VAPING — Moving to stem a vaping epidemic among young people, the House has approved a bill to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products. The bill would place new restrictions on the marketing of e-cigarettes and ban flavors in tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. The bill also would place a new excise tax on nicotine. SENT: 835 words, photos.
SICK TURTLES — A dozen sea turtles that nearly froze when they were too far north last fall as water temperatures abruptly plunged in New Jersey survived that ordeal but remain threatened by the pneumonia most of them developed afterward. Sea Turtle Recovery, a nonprofit group operating out of the Turtle Back Zoo in northern New Jersey, got the turtles through their initial medical crisis, with two needing CPR. SENT: 575 words, photos.
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KING-VIRTUAL REALITY - A high-tech museum exhibit is offering a first-person view of Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic March on Washington speech. The exhibit that opens Friday in Chicago lets visitors use virtual reality technology to stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial next to a three-dimensional King as he delivers his "I Have a Dream Speech." By Sophia Tareen. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos, video by 5 p.m.
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BBO—LAST STAND - Across spring training, one-time All-Stars in their mid-30s are hoping to stave off the end of their careers. Such jobs are typically hard to come by, with teams preferring younger, less expensive options. That could change this year when MLB rosters expand. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.
HEALING WITH BASKETBALL - After a wrenching year marked by a Ku Klux Klan rally, devastating tornadoes and a mass shooting, this struggling city is rallying around a college basketball team and its spectacular season. The Dayton Flyers are ranked No. 4 in the nation, and making people smile again. SENT: 950 words, photos.
SKI--FOREVER CHEMICALS-SKI WAX — At ski races across the United States, competitors are starting to abandon a type of wax many count on for speed amid concerns it contains toxic chemicals that threaten human health and could reach streams and other critical groundwater sources. SENT: 765 words, photos.
SWM--CAS-SUN YANG APPEAL - Three-time Olympic champion swimmer Sun Yang is banned for eight years, his Tokyo Games gone and possibly his career. The top court of international sports punishes the Chinese star for a drug-test collection in which a blood sample container was smashed with a hammer. SENT: 800 words, photos.
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